The War Must Go On ~ Book 1: Gemaris Island

Chapter 7: Unity Bridge

Book 1: Gemaris Island

Chapter 7: Unity Bridge

Ora struggled to keep up with the fast-walking musician while dragging along her large suitcase. When Cosmos finally told Ora that he was headed across the river, Ora quickly told Amien to meet her on the other side of the island, across the bridge, in about an hour. She whispered to Amien that she wanted to talk to Cosmos alone and then, Ora got the brilliant to hand her luggage to the wizard, who groaned and argued with her. Ora encouraged Amien to chat with Marietta for a bit. This helped persuade the stubborn pirate, but he told her that it was not a great idea for him and Ora to split up. But when Ora hurriedly hugged Marietta and followed the fast musician out the cafe, Amien realized he had no choice but to obey Ora. For some odd reason, he saw her as the authority , the leader of their mission. But this had to be a mistake, Amien thought.

"What could Ora possibly want from Cosmos?" Marietta asked Amien, curiously.

That's when Amien remembered Ora cleverly guessing the theme of Cosmos' three ballads.

"I have a theory," he replied. "She better prove me wrong, though."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Ora panted heavily when she finally caught up with Cosmos Preyer, who was just outside the city now, letting his lute swing at his side as he walked.

"Where are you going in such a hurry, anyway?" Ora asked, struggling to catch her breath.

"I have to sing at the Opera house this evening," Cosmos replied, staring ahead of him as he suddenly slowed down his pace.

"Oh, really?" Ora said, suddenly perking up.

"Yes. There's going to be a theater performance right at sunset and I'm playing a bard in it," Cosmos replied, flatly.

"You often play bards, don't you?" Ora said to him, smiling.

"Yes," he replied.

"Do you enjoy only playing bards?" Ora asked, sounding interrogative all of a sudden.

"I don't just play bards," Cosmos snapped back at her.

"Well, what else do you play?"

Cosmos stopped talking and thought for a moment.

"Shepherds, messengers, stable boys, assistants, harolds-"

"Those are all related to music in some way, though," Ora cut him off.

"I would prefer it if you didn't interrupt me, sweetheart," Cosmos said sarcastically.

The girl found herself shocked by everything he had just said in that one sentence, and a gasp escaped her lips as she furrowed her eyebrows at the singer.

Cosmos finally turned his head to look at her for once, but then turned away, sighing.

"Now I forgot what I was going to say," he muttered.

The two continued walking in silence, the only sound in the air being the clopping of their Ora's glass shoes on the light grey cobblestone. They were now crossing the long bridge which stressed over the river that divided the island. Ora was staring at the ground away from Cosmos, trying to find her train of thought. She threw her head back to get a curl out of her eye and then faced the stubborn singer.

"My name is Ora Ember, by the way. Not 'sweetheart.'"

She waited patiently for his reply, which was a raise of his eyebrows and then the comeback, "You're right. 'Ember' suits you much better than a name that implies grace and charm."